CHURCH HILL — A Hawkins County woman told police she and her infant son were held against her will overnight Saturday by her boyfriend, who allegedly beat her repeatedly and threatened her life with a steak knife and a BB gun.
The woman told the Hawkins County Sheriff’s Office she was able to escape Sunday morning and call 911 after her screaming awoke her boyfriend’s parents, and they came over to see what was going on.
Michael Blake Dobbs, 22, 113 Pine Crest Road, Church Hill, was charged Sunday with two counts of kidnapping, aggravated domestic assault, child endangerment and evading arrest.
The alleged victim told the Hawkins County Sheriff’s Office that Dobbs became angry at her Saturday night and wouldn’t let her leave with the infant son they have together.
“(She) said that while she was being held captive she was punched several times by Mr. Dobbs, who also took her cell phone and broke it,” HCSO Deputy Josh Byrd stated in his report. “Dobbs told (her) he broke her cell phone because he didn’t want to go to jail, at which time he began placing items in front of the doors to prevent (her) from leaving the residence. ... Dobbs stated that even if she called the cops they wouldn’t believe her because he made sure to hit her in the back of her head.”
The woman said Dobbs smashed the house phone and then approached her while hiding something behind his back.
Dobbs then allegedly put a steak knife to the woman’s throat while she was holding the baby and told her he would kill her before she took his son away.
“Dobbs then stated ... ‘You are dead,’ and (she) began praying because she was in fear for her child’s life and her own,” Byrd said. “Dobbs then left the room and returned with a BB gun, and held the BB gun to (her) head. This made (her) flinch because he has shot her with it before. After seeing her reaction to the BB gun Dobbs began to laugh. ... Dobbs then told (her) that she could leave after the knots went away on her head from being hit by Dobbs.”
The woman told police she went to bed about 7 p.m. Saturday with her child and woke up at 4 a.m. to find her bedroom door barricaded. She said she knew Dobbs’ parents would be home from work at that time, and she woke Dobbs up and started an argument with him to get his parents’ attention.
She stated she was screaming “stop hitting me,” at which time Dobbs allegedly began choking her to keep her quiet. She reportedly bit Dobbs’ finger to make him stop choking her, and then he allegedly bit her cheek.
Dobbs’ parents came to see what was going on, and Dobbs allegedly punched the woman in the eye in their presence, at which time the parents took Dobbs away from the residence.
The woman said that gave her an opportunity to escape and call 911.
Deputies located Dobbs on River Road Sunday afternoon and chased him to a house, where he was found hiding in an attic.
As of Monday, Dobbs remained held in the Hawkins County jail without bond pending arraignment July 30.